Devices and Methods for Repairing Cartilage and Osteochondral Defects

Abstract

The present invention provides implants useful for treating cartilage and/or osteochondral defects that comprise a plurality of scaffolds arranged in a multi-layer stacked configuration, wherein each scaffold comprises a mesh of polymer fibers and wherein the polymer fibers comprise gelatin, a plant-derived protein, e.g., zein protein, or a combination thereof. Methods for repairing a cartilage and/or an osteochondral defect using implants of the invention are also provided.

1 . An implant for promoting bone and/or cartilage formation, said implant comprising a plurality of scaffolds arranged in a multi-layer stacked configuration;
 wherein each scaffold comprises a mesh of polymer fibers; and   wherein the polymer fibers comprise gelatin, a plant-derived protein or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer fibers in at least one scaffold further comprise a sulfated polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 2 , wherein said sulfated polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose sulfate, starch sulfate and chitin sulfate. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein said sulfated polymer is cellulose sulfate. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 4 , wherein said cellulose sulfate is a fully sulfated cellulose sulfate (fSC), partially sulfated cellulose sulfate (pSC) or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer fibers are electrospun. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer fibers comprise gelatin. 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 7 , wherein the polymer fibers are crosslinked. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 8 , wherein the polymer fibers are crosslinked with a crosslinker selected from the group consisting of N-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)-N′-ethyl carbodiimide with N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS), genipen and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer fibers comprise a plant-derived protein. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 10 , wherein the plant-derived protein is selected from the group consisting of zein protein and soy protein. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein the plant-derived protein is zein protein. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 10 , wherein the polymer fibers are crosslinked. 
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 13 , wherein the polymer fibers are crosslinked with an epoxy-based crosslinker. 
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 14 , wherein said epoxy-based crosslinker is trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether (TMPGE). 
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein in at least one scaffold
 the polymer fibers have an average fiber diameter of between about 100 nm and about 100 μm; or   the mesh of polymer fibers exhibits interfiber spacing of between about 10 μm and about 200 μm.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is hydrolytically stable. 
     
     
         19 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for repairing a cartilage and/or an osteochondral defect in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising disposing in the cartilage and/or the osteochondral defect the implant of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         24 . A method for repairing a cartilage and/or an osteochondral defect in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising disposing in the cartilage and/or the osteochondral defect a plurality of scaffolds arranged in a multi-layer stacked configuration;
 wherein each scaffold comprises a mesh of polymer fibers; and   wherein the mesh of polymer fibers comprises gelatin, a plant-derived protein or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         25 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A scaffold for promoting bone and/or cartilage formation, said scaffold comprising a mesh of polymer fibers;
 wherein the polymer fibers comprise a plant-derived protein and a sulfated polymer.   
     
     
         46 - 53 . (canceled)